My wife and I have both experienced stage 3 Rectal Cancer. As with hers, I was alerted to seek medical assistance after I discovered blood in my stools. Prior to surgery, I was treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It tired me out. My surgery was complicated and left me in the hospital for 37 days, later another 5 days stay. While in the hospital, I was 1.5 hours away from home. It became a challenge for my wife to visit. Both my wife and I have permanent ostomy bags. My recovery has had many setbacks and is taking longer than expected. I have complete trust for my Oncologist. I am fortunate to live in a state where there is excellent health care. Yet, I have had a difficult time adjusting to the ostomy bag. Home Health Aide services were offered and accepted but I was extremely disappointed. I had the understanding they would teach me how to use the ostomy bag, they did not. The aides even told me they had never changed a bag before. The aides brought incorrect equipment, bringing only one part of a two-piece bag. We would telephone them, and it would be days before a return call would come. My wife stepped in and ordered both pieces of the two-piece bag. Currently I need a lot of bedrests. It has been a challenge to maintain my blood levels. My wife has become my caretaker. Bless her heart. During all this, our income has suffered. I have attempted to work but it has become abundantly clear my body needs more time to recover. We desperately need some assistance in order to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. We have been unable to work for several months. I am fighting hard every day to become a cancer survivor and get our lives back on track. Your donation would be so greatly appreciated while I navigate my recovery. #CancerSucks
